Jiri Novak has a chance to leave Auckland a winner, despite being tipped out of the international Open singles yesterday.
Even before his straight-sets loss to Spain's Rafael Nadal in the Heineken Open semifinals, Novak was through to this afternoon's doubles final with his Czech Republic team-mate, Radek Stepanek.
Theunseeded pair will meet top seeds Mahesh Bhupathi, of India, and Fabrice Santoro, of France, in the Open's finale. The clash brings together some of the best doubles players in the world.
The two pairings have won through without dropping a set in their three matches.
Between them, the four players have won 63 ATP doubles titles and played in another 58 finals.
Novak and Stepanek were assured of their spot in the final after Thursday's win over South Africans Jeff Coetzee and Chris Haggard, but the top seeds had to play twice yesterday following Thursday night's washout.
Bhupathi and Santoro were taken to a first-set tiebreaker in yesterday morning's quarter-final by unseeded Americans Jan-Michael Gambill and Brian MacPhie.
But they cruised through the second set, winning 6-1.
Their afternoon semifinal was easier. They overpowered third seeds Jared Palmer, from the United States, and Czech Pavel Vizner, 6-1, 6-2.
"Away from the serious nature of singles, I enjoy doubles," Novak said.
"I've been playing doubles for 10 years. It is certainly a chance for some joking and laughing.
"This is our second year together. All the players want to play doubles, but they can't always get in because of their rankings."
Despite their high standings on the world rankings, none of today's finalists has won the doubles title in Auckland.
Novak went close in 1999 when he and David Rikl lost in the final.
